Category: Best of

To be perfectly honest, its actually been a little while since Matt and I went to Seapine together, but I am trying to update this blog a little more often and when I was flipping through untappd, I noticed Seapine. I couldnt recall if we had written this one up, after a quick search, it appears that we have not. This is a problem for me because I ADORE Seapine.

Seapine is a wonderful brewery. Located in SODO close(ish) to Safeco and Centrylink its a great place to stop off before you make your way to park near the stadiums. Matt and I have stopped in a small handful of times together and its becoming a popular location for Matt to take his beer drinking buddies before a game. The taproom has a nice big, open feel to it with some outdoor seating for those great Seattle summer days before Mariners games.

The thing that really makes Seapine special though, is the beer. Prior to our first visit to the taproom, I don’t think I’d ever had Seapine before, so I went with a sampler. This brewery makes beer I like. The Seapine IPA is a great flagship IPA, its light and smooth with some bitterness at the end, but not overwhelming. The Mosaic Pale is everything I want a pale to be. Its very similar to an IPA with a much milder hop profile. The Peach Gose is especially refreshing, and one of my favorite beers to find on tap. I really like when breweries have a sour on tap because 1. I love sours and 2. they are usually a little lighter on the alcohol content (though in this case, the Mosaic Pale is comparable) which is nice if you are heading somewhere after.

In my mind, the absolute best beer that Seapine makes is the Positron IPA. If you listen to our podcast you may remember our episode about IPA’s, and our ranking our top 5. Positron is currently my #1 IPA. It is a single hop (Galaxy) IPA with the most tropical notes I’ve ever had in an IPA. It really is the most delightful IPA. Since we have growlers coming out of our ears at home, Matt and I have a general rule not to purchase any more. I broke this rule the first time we went to Seapine because I needed to bring the Positron IPA home with me. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

There is nothing more Northwest than the IPA. We love our hops. Be it with a hint of pine, grapefruit or maybe even licorice, we love the IPA.

I may not be the biggest IPA expert in the world, but I’ve had a lot of them. In fact, according to my Untappd (Husky13836) I’ve had over 354 different IPAs in the last 4 years. I’m very proud of that.

So now I want to rank my top IPAs. I have MANY favorite IPAs, but I’m doing my best to give love to the best ones I’ve had. So here are my rules, it must be a craft brewery and it must be from Washington. So sorry Deschutes, you make some great beer, but you’re not making this list. Nor are you Redhook, Pyramid or Elyisan. And it must be a beer you can get often, nothing experimental or the occasional small batch.

Honorable Mentions:

Trickster IPA (Too big) – This is an IPA done right. If you’ve never had the Trickster IPA from Black Raven Brewing, you are missing out. Black Raven is easily one of the best breweries in the state.

Space Dust IPA (Too big) – I love me some Space Dust. And even though I’m a little bummed that Elysian sold out (I don’t blame them, they go PAID), but Space Dust is starting to appear everywhere and it is absolutely wonderful.

Iron Horse IPA (Too big) – Iron Horse Brewing in Ellensburg has done everything right. They make awesome beer and they’re in the greatest city ever (CWU Grad here). And I’m excited to say that they are too big to make this list, and they should be damn proud. But I love their IPA. I know their flagship is the Irish Death, but their IPA is completely worth it if you find it.

Number 10 –

Another IPA – Flying Lion Brewing: Fun fact about their brewer Griffen, he is in his mid 20s. That is nuts. Being a head brewer and owning his own brewery at that age. I find that very impressive.

Flying Lion located in Columbia City Seattle is a new and up and coming brewery with a solid IPA. The Another IPA. A little malty with a nice hoppy finish, this is a brew you can easily enjoy.

Number 9 –

Flashing Lights IPA – Cloudburst: It is difficult for me to pick just ONE of their IPAs, since they are all good. Each one just a little bit different but all of them equally drinkable. I’ve only been to this brewery once, but it is a place I’m going to enjoy more and more in the upcoming months. This brewery is going to be big. And their IPAs are going to be a staple of my diet.

Number 8 –

Alpha Factor IPA – Postdoc Brewing Co: The motto for Postdoc is “See life through a different lens” and damnit, that lens is delicious. Postdoc now has been only open for about a year and they’ve come on to the scene strong. When you drop a tasty beer like the Alpha Factor, no wonder the brewery is doing so well. Compared to the other IPAs I’ve reviewed so far, this is by far the most crisp and clean, and not as hoppy. But there is enough hops at the finish to absolutely enjoy. So head on out to Redmond and try this tasty IPA.